Introduction

When measuring the impact of different learning activities on a child's success in school, one influence is clear: there is no greater predictor of a child's success than the support and education he or she receives at home. Countless studies have made this point again and again. Whether reading together, discussing television programs viewed together, helping with homework, or quizzing the child on spelling words before the big test, families play a critical role in any child's development.

The World Wide Web has put vast and varied resources into the hands of parents and children with the goal of supporting learning at home. What will be the impact of such resources? Will they be used? And will online home and school connections increase the abilities of students over time? In this WebQuest you contemplate answers to these questions.

This WebQuest provides the opportunity to:

• identify and review websites designed to support learning at home and the link between home and school;
• examine identified websites for their potential to affect learning;
• provide professional guidance to a school or district as they attempt to use online resources to increase family participation in education.

To accomplish your task, complete the following steps:

1. Review Lightspan.com - Online Learning for School and Home
   

   Take particular note of Lightspan's approach to organizing resources for both students and parents (not to mention teachers).

2. Review at least two of the following sites:

The Learning Kingdom
Pathways to School Improvement
The Parent Institute
Parent Soup
ParentsPlace.com
Family.com
Touchstones


3. Are these resources worthy? Can you imagine how they might contribute to a program that will help parents participate in the learning process? How could they be most useful? What causes are involved, do you think, in insufficient parent involvement, and what solution system might serve them and the children?
   
   
4. Review the letter that will be sent to parents. Will it get the job done? Is that a good way to increase and structure their involvement?
   
   
5. Write a short email to the principal with suggestions as to how to increase the likelihood that this parent involvement effort will actually make a difference for kids and families. Is an online effort a good idea? Respond to the letter and to the potential that online communications brings to the goal of linking schools and homes more effectively. How about the letter? Is it an effective communication to parents? Improve it to reflect a better approach, please.
   
   
6. Submit your hard copy email to Professor Rossett.

Effective emails will inform the client administrator, provide guidance, add value to the effort and not depress the principal. Help the principal to see the possibilities. Please do not exceed 500 words in your letter.